Sonny's Rimless Shallow Reef.
- Thread starter JohnL
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syrss
New member
Hi Sonny, I been watching your threading for a while now. Just an amazing tank you have. I have a tank with the same exact dimension as yours.
I have a question for you (if you don't have enough already), is a skimmer absolutely necessary with MB7/vodka dosing? What will happen if I don't run a skimmer since I am doing hypo in my DT right now and it's rendering my skimmer useless.
Thanks,
Ron
I have a question for you (if you don't have enough already), is a skimmer absolutely necessary with MB7/vodka dosing? What will happen if I don't run a skimmer since I am doing hypo in my DT right now and it's rendering my skimmer useless.
Thanks,
Ron
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Yes, you MUST run a skimmer when vodka dosing.
aquariumclown
New member
I'll take a stab at this question.
If you don't run a skimmer and you dose vodka, the bacteria will bloom and all the excess gunk as a result will have no where to go, usually this is skimmed out by the skimmer. You may also have a lack of oxygen in the tank after a period of dosing, therefore greatly affects the ph, then the tank will crash, in turn (worst case) killing everything in it.
Here's an excerpt from Reef Keeping online magazine...
"Equipment - Skimmer, An Absolute Must!
Well if it sounds so great, why can't I just start dumping vodka/organic carbon into my system? Before running to the liquor cabinet, the simple answer is overdosing can cause serious and detrimental effects to the reef system. To help circumvent this potential issue a dosing regimen along with some basic equipment is needed. The absolute must is the requirement for a powerful skimmer. People that have reported beneficial results using this method all have had strong skimmer and report a change in skimmate from a light brown to a strong odiferous black sludge. This makes a good skimmer a key requirement and important for two reasons:
Gas exchange. The increased bacterial biomass and growth will decrease your dissolved O2 levels in the water column. Too much vodka can result in a drastic decrease of O2 and can cause stress to your reef inhabitants, if not death.
Exporting bacteria/macromolecule mass. Vodka addition results in lower NO3 and PO4 levels. You will want to export the incorporated nitrogen and phosphates that you are cultivating by organic carbon dosing. Efficient skimming allows such removal.
Jörg Kokott, a key contributor to the original thread, recommended the use of ozone during the duration of vodka dosing to maintain high levels of dissolved O2 in the system. This decrease in dissolved O2 is indirectly observed in ORP meter readings after vodka addition. Though not an absolute requirement, as told from many RC participants, ozone may add an extra level of protection by increasing O2 levels during an overdose."
SunnyX
New member
SunnyX
New member
Nothing really has changed. Vodka and MB7 dosages change weekly based on observations.
SunnyX
New member
:lol: SEINFELD: "Not thats there anything wrong with it!"
Hello,
Nikon D50 SLR
I use Photoshop and Lightroom 2 to adjust white balance.
maroun.c
New member
Sonny,
How about coral growth under ULNS? I know no 2 tanks are really comparable and that there are many variables but do you think would get similar or at least close growth rates in ULNS and regular tanks?
also in the case of a new tank with DSB or Remote DSB would it have any side effects to dose Vodka and bacteria to the system? I know it could have bad side effects on a tank with an old DSB but was wondering about tanks with established DSB.
Thanks
How about coral growth under ULNS? I know no 2 tanks are really comparable and that there are many variables but do you think would get similar or at least close growth rates in ULNS and regular tanks?
also in the case of a new tank with DSB or Remote DSB would it have any side effects to dose Vodka and bacteria to the system? I know it could have bad side effects on a tank with an old DSB but was wondering about tanks with established DSB.
Thanks
SunnyX
New member
Hello Maroun
I feel that my coral growth with ULNS has been great. From the pictures I have posted you can see that the tank grew very well over a one year period. The only thing bad about an ULNS is that coral growth can slow to a halt if the nutrient levels get too low. I have had issues in the past when nutrients have gotten too low, but they were solved once I started to feed more and cut back on dosing.
Concerning DSB, if you dont already have a DSB then I wouldn't put one in if you plan on doing an ULNS. Some reefers have reported issues when dosing carbon in a DSB system. I am not 100% sure what reactions and problems arise so I cant give a solid opinion on the matter.
I just checked out your thread and the corals are looking good! :thumbsup:
SunnyX
New member
Im not sure what the procedures for bringing over corals internationally but I will be sure to bring you a frag of each SPS I have if I can make it to Beirut in December.
Lyfey
Member
Sonny,
I have stopped dosing everything about 2 1/2 weeks ago and preformed a few larger water changes. My tank was almost crashed SPS wise, now everything is coming back to life, getting beautiful colors back and everything generally looks much better and healthier since stopping all dosing of MB7/vodka/Lugols. I was thinking to myself why, would this be and I think I just figured it out. I think my skimmer is not LARGE enough to support a carbon dosed system. I am running a DAS EX-1 and Honestly even though it pulls alot of nasty scum out of the water, oxygenization I believe is not up to par. If anyone is having problems in their carbon dosed systems, do you think its a possibility that their skimmers are not as great at producing higher O2 levels than they thought? My system was on the way to death until I stopped and I couldnt figure out why. What do you all think?
DAS EX-1 running 1x aquabee 2000. Skimmer is 6" wide column and Heavy bubbles in the column are only about 12 inches at most in the main skimmer chamber. Even though I have great surface agitation and my overflow, I dont think its enough. During this time I was running the vodka/mb7, it was very hot outside too so I kept my AC at 68 and all windows closed, now that it has cooled down, all windows are open a little and AC is off, since then the tank is looking alot better.
Just something to think about for people having problems about a month in of doing the Mb7/vodka dosing.
thanks
-Chris
I have stopped dosing everything about 2 1/2 weeks ago and preformed a few larger water changes. My tank was almost crashed SPS wise, now everything is coming back to life, getting beautiful colors back and everything generally looks much better and healthier since stopping all dosing of MB7/vodka/Lugols. I was thinking to myself why, would this be and I think I just figured it out. I think my skimmer is not LARGE enough to support a carbon dosed system. I am running a DAS EX-1 and Honestly even though it pulls alot of nasty scum out of the water, oxygenization I believe is not up to par. If anyone is having problems in their carbon dosed systems, do you think its a possibility that their skimmers are not as great at producing higher O2 levels than they thought? My system was on the way to death until I stopped and I couldnt figure out why. What do you all think?
DAS EX-1 running 1x aquabee 2000. Skimmer is 6" wide column and Heavy bubbles in the column are only about 12 inches at most in the main skimmer chamber. Even though I have great surface agitation and my overflow, I dont think its enough. During this time I was running the vodka/mb7, it was very hot outside too so I kept my AC at 68 and all windows closed, now that it has cooled down, all windows are open a little and AC is off, since then the tank is looking alot better.
Just something to think about for people having problems about a month in of doing the Mb7/vodka dosing.
thanks
-Chris
Lyfey
Member
Just another side note. Both me and Katie smoke inside our apartment. I dont think its a great idea to smoke inside a sealed apartment with the central AC on. Even though we dont smoke alot, I think it had an effect on my reef while dosing the MB7/vodka and having the windows sealed. I know some of you are all thinking "eww nasty smokers lol" but its really not that bad haha
-Chris
-Chris
SunnyX
New member
The skimmer very well could have been the problem, but we cant be certain. Because every system is different, this dosing method may work out better for some tanks then others.
With the AC running and a smaller skimmer the bacteria may have caused your PH to dip, likely due to a lack of available O2.
Do you have any readings on your Ph during the time that you were having issues?
SunnyX
New member
Just another side note. Both me and Katie smoke inside our apartment. I dont think its a great idea to smoke inside a sealed apartment with the central AC on. Even though we dont smoke alot, I think it had an effect on my reef while dosing the MB7/vodka and having the windows sealed. I know some of you are all thinking "eww nasty smokers lol" but its really not that bad haha
-Chris
Nasty smoker!!!
I dont smoke cigs, but I do enjoy the occasional fine cigar. :bum:The sealed up apartment and small skimmer may have caused some issues, see my post above.
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